What's this part?

Names and descriptions of common parts you'll find on a pedal steel

Changer (all-pull)

The changer is the heart of a pedal steel guitar. On guitars with modern all-pull changers, there are 2 basic types of mechanisms:

Wraparound raise finger

In this configuration, the raise finger goes up and around the bridge pin (finger shaft) and resides next to the control finger. It contains 1 rivet, which connects the raise and lower fingers. It also requires only 1 return stop.

Click on the examples below to see an animation of the wraparound raise finger changer in action.

Riveted raise finger

In this configuration, the raise finger is riveted to the bottom of the control finger. It contains 2 rivets, 1 of which connects the raise finger to the lower finger and the other of which connects the raise finger to the control finger. This configuration may require 2 return stops: 1 for the raises and 1 for the lowers.

Click on the examples below to see an animation of the riveted raise finger changer in action.

Here's a basic parts diagram for a typical changer mechanism (wraparound finger type):

Finger parts